The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The sold-out sign is up for New Zealand's opening two T20 cricket matches against India in Christchurch, but that doesn't necessarily mean a home crowd given the local support for the visitors. 

The sides last met in March's World Cup final at Ahmedabad, won by India. 

Black Caps coach Rob Walter has outlined the series priorities for the five T20s, five ODIs, and two tests. 

He told Mike Hosking the test matches are part of the World Test Championships, so they're very important, while the T20s are part of the World Cup finals, so they'd like to get an edge on them in their own conditions. 

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There is a positive picture to be found within the Mood of the Boardroom, says EMA's Head of Advocacy and Strategy. 

Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking that the underlying numbers are becoming more visible, which is beginning to give the business sector "a bit more confidence in a longer-term recovery". 

Manufacturing has been a quiet achiever while the residential construction sector is picking up, McDonald said. 

"The numbers for tourism have finally gone back to pre-Covid levels, so that's also a good story." 

However, hiring intentions within the boardroom were "still fairly flat", which was indicative of the caution surrounding the country's economic recovery, he said. 

"A lot of places have cut staff, or haven't cut, but haven't replaced. So they're running fairly lean anyway." 

Asked for a word to summarise the mood, McDonald said: "Cautiously optimistic on the back of some pretty sound numbers." 

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Italy's cracking down on violent protests, deploying 500 troops to Milan following widespread unrest. 

The Government's also introduced a new offence for violent demonstrators, carrying up to five years in prison. 

Protestors have looted shops, set fires, and attacked police over rising living costs and high rents. 

Europe correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking protesters claim the violence was justified because the Government isn't taking care of people. 

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The Reserve Bank will be looking under the hood of inflation numbers today as it weighs up interest rate hikes. 

Stats NZ is releasing its latest inflation data at 10.45 this morning. 

The central bank forecasts the numbers would fall to 3.9%, down from 4.1% last quarter. 

Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold told Mike Hosking if the Reserve Bank sees core inflation rising, they'll be more inclined towards further OCR hikes. 

He says the indicators they've seen is that firms aren't trying to raise prices as the demand environment is constraining them. 

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Chris Hipkins is standing firm that move-on orders criminalise homelessness. 

The Bill allowing Police to move on beggars, rough sleepers, or people acting disorderly from a public place take effect this Sunday. 

If they refuse or return within 24 hours of being moved on, they can be penalised with up to three months’ jail or a $2,000 fine. 

Stuff's fact check of Tuesday's leaders debate found National's Christopher Luxon was right saying it's not criminalising homelessness. 

Labour's Leader Chris Hipkins told Mike Hosking it's a debatable point. 

He says it's not saying someone is criminal being homeless, but it's saying they can be treated like a criminal. 

Hipkins also responded to the ratings he was given by New Zealand's CEOs and business leaders at today's Mood of the Boardroom. 

Out of five, he was 2.7 for integrity and 2.5 for trustworthiness, which he told Hosking didn't 'particularly' bother him.  

He says CEOs are not his target audience, as he's more interested in the mood of the smoko room than the mood of the boardroom. 

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Surely it's only one more day before Chris Hipkins gets to, just maybe, put the gangs in the rear-view mirror. 

In his new found assessment that handing millions to the Mongrel Mob when last in government was "a mistake", he reveals the real issue he faces this election campaign; 

Time. 

The gap between what he did and what he now promises to do is too short. That is roughly why most governments get two terms. 

Generally, governments lose elections, Oppositions don’t win them. 

The reason they lose them is we are sick of the incumbents and that feeling generally lasts longer than three years. 

For Hipkins, and for that matter Sepuloni, Andersen, Verrall, Tinetti, Edmonds, and Co, to be back so soon after an historically implosive burst of Labour-style ideology was always going to be a test of the punter's resolve. 

Which is why I have been moderately critical of this Government's lack of focus on that period in which we were literally sold down a fiscal river through sheer incompetence. 

It has rectified itself this past week with the gangs because the gangs are a visceral reminder of who these people really are. You could add MIQ, lockdowns, free money and the Māorification obsession. The list is enormous, but the gangs have refocused us on the worst of Labour. 

So with gangs back front and centre, the question had to be asked about the free millions for the Mongrel Mob, Chris. This is the $2.75 million for alleged meth rehab. 

And Hipkins, having done the best he could in the distancing department from the Greens, if not the Māori Party, could do nothing more than throw Ardern under the bus and say it was a mistake. 

Which indeed it was. It was an egregious one, but one nevertheless that shows basically who they are. 

Saying something when he wants your vote is easy. Some might suggest he will say anything. 

But the record speaks for itself and given they have not changed, have not apologised and have not recognised the damage whether in justice, crime, the economy, education or any number of social issues, they remain who they always were; 

A failed Government hoping three years on you’ve forgotten it all. 

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 21st of October, we discuss the record high number of arrests and charges for retail crime, plus we wrap the final leader's debate. 

Speaker Gerry Brownlee talks rising threats on MPs following the attack on Helen Haines in Australia. 

And on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk MP security and campaigning with just two and a half weeks to go. 

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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Today on Politics Wednesday, National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen discuss the latest from the election campaign.  

Plus, they discuss the rising number of threats towards MPs and the attack on an Australian politician. 

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A world-first facility opening in Christchurch could bring cutting-edge cancer treatment closer to home for Kiwi patients. 

BioOra will manufacture CAR-T therapies at the central site, using patients' own genetically modified cells to fight cancer. 

It could eventually treat 150 patients a year, reducing the need for overseas treatment, which can cost more than a million dollars. 

Chief Executive John Robson told Mike Hosking the facility has sophisticated set of laboratories. 

He says there's six in total, with four of them being 'super clean rooms,' where staff will be genetically modifying cells for patients. 

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Our gaming sector is continuing to flourish, and one game developer believes there's no reason it can't keep growing with investment. 

New Zealand First wants to lift funding for the Centre of Digital Excellence by 2028 and to improve the studio rebate. 

That includes increasing the claimable amount from $3 million to $10 million. 

RocketWerkz Games Chief Operating Officer Stephen Knightly told Mike Hosking it's closing the gap that Australia continues to have over our industry.  

He says Australia is fighting for tech jobs and creative jobs and believes New Zealand's naive if it doesn't fight back. 

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